The U.S. military conducted another lethal strike on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean, killing three people, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Saturday.

This marks at least the 15th such strike in the Caribbean or eastern Pacific since early September, with at least 64 deaths in total.

Hegseth said the vessel was linked to a U.S.-designated terrorist organization and emphasized no U.S. forces were harmed, framing the campaign as part of an “armed conflict” against narco-terrorists akin to the fight against Al-Qaeda.

Critics, including Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Senate Democrats, have raised concerns about civilian casualties, legal justification, and transparency, demanding more information about the strikes and the cartels targeted, CBS News has reported.

The operations coincide with increased U.S. naval presence in the region, including the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford, as part of the Trump administration’s intensified anti-drug efforts.